Ms. Marvel
The best thing to come out of Phase 4 since Loki.
After disappointing finales to Wandavision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, and Moon Knight despite all starting strong, Ms. Marvel takes a page out of Loki's book and crafts an energetic, engaging, and wonderful finale to a delightful series.
Episode 1 (and now Batgirl directors) Adil & Bilall return behind the camera and make an excellent case for why they're the best directors on the Disney+ side of things. Infusing every scene, conversation, and action scene with a high sense of energy, flow, and style. The team dynamic between Kamala, Bruno, Nakia, Kamran, and Zoe adds so much to the series that I wish there was more of it.
The action scenes are some of the best for a Disney+ series, while not quite as "Fuck yeah!" worthy as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it still keeps your attention with the fast-paced energy and cinematography. And COLORS! REAL COLORS! And man, it was a blast seeing two people of color kick the crap out some military goons. Power fantasties ftw!
The performances all around are great, but Iman Vilani is a superstar in the making. Her sense of charisma, warmth, energy, and knack for drama are all the makings of having her rank among the best performers the MCU has ever had. Cannot wait to see her again, not only as Kamala, but just in general.
Laura Karpman's score also deserves a lot of props. Having been the largest saving grace on What If, Karpman brings her own flair in addition to combining the classic Alan Silvestri-esque superhero sound with Pakistani influences. Her theme for Kamala is probably the best hero theme to come out of Disney+ and I can't wait to hear her theme return for The Marvels, which Karpman is also scoring.
Overall, Ms. Marvel managed to defy my expectations, supplying with me with a fun high school coming of age story with nice insights to the culture of its main character. And of course, all the great action and humor one expects from an MCU project. As a woman of color myself, I don't get to see other women of color succeed in franchise spaces. We're either canon fodder, stereotypes, or sex objects. Ms. Marvel, like Black Panther and Shang-Chi, showcases people of color in a positive and heroic light and bestows the same storytelling magic that's been a given for white characters for decades. Of course, no amount of effort or heart will silence all the toxic/racist nitpickers who are still finding new ways to write off everything that features a woman, a POC, or an LGBTQ+ person as "propaganda" or an "agenda". Meanwhile, woke scolds on social media try to diminish the importance of diversity in media by writing it off because "it's made by a corporation". No matter how much the goal post is moved, I'll always cherish and appreciate when diversity and female empowerment is done correctly. Now if only I could have a Latina superhero. A trans girl superhero would be nice too.
Also, just a quick thought. If he were still alive, Stan Lee 100% would've been in that ending montage.
Loved every second of this show and I can't wait for more. Alright Nia, let's see what you got.